Maputo, Mozambique — Authorities in Maputo are taking measures to end racist practices by foreign (mostly South African) tourist operators in some of Mozambique's resorts.

Speaking in Parliament Wednesday, Tourism minister Fernando Sumbana said his ministry had ordered the removal of one particularly offensive sign a South African tourist operator had placed on a Mozambican beach.

The sign, in English, read "Local children not allowed."

Sumbana said his ministry was also demanding that all hotels and other tourist facilities must accept reservations from Mozambicans.

Sumbana said that the country's official language, Portuguese, must be used for signposts with an English translation where appropriate.

He said an illegal camping site on a beach at Xai-Xai in Gaza Province had been removed as his ministry moved in against unauthorised construction in tourist resorts.

The minister further urged the customs service to be rigorous in checking what tourists bring into the country.

He was reacting to complaints that many South African visitors bring in their own food and drink, and spend next to nothing in Mozambique.

"We don't want the kind of tourist who leaves us with nothing but rubbish," declared Sumbana.